August 20, 2020 – Washington Co., WI – Former Washington County parks supervisor Roger Kist was honored with a plaque and recognized this week for his 50 years of service to the parks.
Pictured: Left to right in the back row son Jeff Kist, daughter Sarah Kist, wife Denise, sons Isaac Kist and Jacob Kist. Front row granddaughter Cryssanne Wittlief sitting next to Roger.
Kist, 83, was a young pup when he moved to Ridge Run Park in November 1967. Originally hired as caretaker of the park, Kist said it “reminded me a lot of when I worked on the farm.” A supervisor at the park, Kist sported a handlebar mustache and eventually became a fixture known as Ranger Roger.
Aside from the parks and Washington County Tourism, Kist has been a familiar face in politics on both the West Bend common council and as a supervisor, elected in April of 2016, to the Washington County Board.
“When I was on the council I was also chairman of the local Republican Party,” said Kist. “I remember Mike Schlotfeldt was elected alderman and he chaired the Democratic Party. When he sat down he looked over at me like the devil had just shown up.”
Kist took his time and built a relationship with the representative from Dist. 6. “When Mike decided not to run again we had a little party and he said to me, ‘Roger you’re the only friend I’ve got.’”
